Lactalis Canada’s distribution centre in Belleville is set to close in spring of 2025, a company official confirmed with The Intelligencer Tuesday.
The dairy and cheese products distribution centre at 160 Jamieson Bone Road in Belleville’s Northeast Industrial Park will be consolidated into a much larger new distribution centre now under construction in Oshawa.
The Jamieson Bone Road operation has served as a shipping hub for cheese and dairy products made by Black Diamond Cheese operations in Belleville.
In response to a query late Tuesday from The Intelligencer, Lactalis Canada spokesperson Roopa Shah confirmed, “we will be consolidating multiple shipping locations used to service the cheese and tablespreads category – including the internally-operated Belleville distribution centre – into a central facility in Oshawa.”
“As part of the consolidation effort, in Spring 2025 we will be closing our Belleville distribution site and 69 positions at the Belleville distribution centre will be eliminated as a result of the closure. At this time, we do not know how many employees will be affected as it will be determined by a number of factors including if an employee wishes to receive a package, take an open position at our Belleville manufacturing plant or if they are displaced (‘bumped’ on the basis of seniority) under the Collective Bargaining Agreement,” Shah said.
“Lactalis Canada intends to work with all impacted employees on the options available to them and is fully committed to supporting all impacted employees for the transition or where possible, in their next career step. When the Oshawa facility is operational, employees are welcome to apply to any open positions.”
Shah informed that Black Diamond, “Lactalis Canada’s Belleville manufacturing plant will remain operational and we are committed to our continued role as an active member of the Belleville community.”
According to a company announcement sent to The Intelligencer earlier Tuesday, a new 379,000 square-foot Oshawa facility is set to open in late 2024 and construction is now under way by Broccolini, the same outfit that built the new one million square-foot Amazon XL distribution warehouse slated to open in Belleville Oct. 1.
Lactalis said it will enter a new long-term lease with builder and landlord Broccolini to move operations into the Oshawa facility.
The new “central, modern facility [will] enable the company’s long-term growth, increase capacity and efficiency while enhancing service to the company’s customers,” Lactalis Canada said.
“Lactalis Canada’s new facility in Oshawa will become the largest distribution centre, from a capacity standpoint, for Lactalis Group globally,” said Mark Taylor, president and CEO, Lactalis Canada, in the news release.
“This bold step exemplifies Lactalis Canada’s growth ambitions in Canada as a dairy leader and more importantly, reinforces our continued commitment and investment in the country and communities in which we operate.”
“The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is the optimal hub for this part of our supply chain network across Canada,” said Eric Seguin, senior vice-president, Supply Chain, Lactalis Canada.
“The Oshawa distribution centre is poised to meet the current needs and future demands of our business and customers, while its sustainable design will transform our network effectiveness and contribute to Lactalis Canada’s ESG agenda in reducing its carbon footprint.”
The facility will create approximately 80 jobs in Oshawa, the company said, and the surrounding region and will join Lactalis Canada’s workforce of more than 4,200 employees across 30 operating sites in Canada.
With 140 years of brand heritage, Lactalis Canada said it directly employs more than 4,000 Canadians, supports hundreds of farming families and contributes to the livelihoods of thousands of Canadians who provide essential services to Lactalis Canada’s more than 30 operating sites including 20 manufacturing facilities.
The company’s iconic brands include Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, P’tit Québec, Balderson, Cheestrings Ficello, aMOOza!, Astro, Khaas, siggi’s, IÖGO, IÖGO nanö, Olympic, Lactantia, Beatrice, Marie Morin Canada, Galbani and Président. Lactalis Canada is part of Lactalis Group, the world’s leading dairy company, headquartered in Laval, France.
